Concluding our series on Ruth, we consider the role of hesed in our lives. Hesed is not just being kind- it’s an extraordinary, risky, honourable loving kindness that is so potent as to change people’s circumstances forever. We can all be and are called to be people of hesed. God acts through our kindness to one another. But to grow in it we must receive it too- the more we receive Gods life changing kindness the more we can give it away to those in need.
Ruth - a 21st century model of what now?
Ruth arrives in Israel - having pledged her life to Naomi - not just as an outsider, not just as a destitute woman, but as a Moabite, she is despised. As a loyal, self-denying woman she may seem like a role model of immigrant subservience we don’t really need right now, but looking a little deeper we see her courageous leadership is what opens the door to everything else. Ruth is called Woman of Valor (the OG OT highest praise) before any of her circumstances actually change though. So this story teaches us about how god loves to do that, and how he loves to use the ones everyone else rights off, and how his loving-kindness is to be the fuel of everything we ever do as christians.